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Public Meetings Scheduled for Pit 1 - June 11th (CA)

On Tuesday, June 11th, California's State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) will hold two
public meetings about the proposed permanent cancellation of summer flushing/whitewater flows
through the Pit River Canyon on the Pit 1 Hydroelectric Project. Between 2003 and 2009, summer
flushing/whitewater flows restored 6 days of whitewater boating opportunities to the Pit River
Canyon while improving water quality and curbing aquatic vegetaion and mosquito production.

The summer flushing/whitewater flows were placed under a temporary suspension order in 2010 after
PG&E and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service expressed concern that they were harming the
endangered Shasta crayfish. Monitoring showed a decline in the number of Shasta crayfish and
increase in invasive crayfish within the Pit 1 reach. However, similar and more dramatic
population trends are taking place throughout the rest of the Pit River Basin as well–all
in areas where summer flushing/whitewater flows do not occur. Despite this, PG&E has
requested that the flushing flows be permanently cancelled and removed from the water quality
certification and FERC license for the project.

It's important that boaters turn out to these meetings to speak up for the value that
the Pit 1 reach provides for whitewater recreation and express their opinions about the
proposal. The Pit River is mostly spring-fed and had the potential to provide whitewater boating
opportunities most of the year. However, flows are severely dimished by the Pit 1 Hydroelectric
Project. Under the proposal, 4 days of fall flows will continue, but 6 days of summer flows will
be permanently eliminated.

The public meetings will provide an opportunity to learn more about the proposed changes and
process, and allow the public to submit oral and written comments. The SWRCB will be preparing an
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and
seeks information about the potentially significant impacts of canceling the flushing flows,
potential alternatives, and mitigation measures that should be analyzed. The information that
they receive will help to guide their decision-making process.
See the SWRCB's announcement here...